Croatia's World Congress (HSK) has printed 100,000 Christmas cards they plan to send to Croatian generals detained at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague.

The cards will be distributed to Croatians living in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Sweden and Netherlands who want to send Christmas greetings to general Ante Gotovina and other Hague inmates.

Gotovina was sentenced to 24 years in prison in April this year for war crimes committed during the Croatian war of independence from former Yugoslavia (1991-1995). HSK had organised several protests in the past against the verdict they perceive as unjust.

The Christmas cards have a pre-printed statement but also room for a personal message, HSK Secretary Danijel Lucic says.

"As we celebrate Christ’s birth and Christmas, our thoughts are with those who made free Croatia possible. We are certain that the post box in The Hague will be overflowing with greetings from around the world and we are certain that the generals will read each individual message," Lucic says.